Reece Gardner: When a pet dies
Are you inspired today? If so, then reach out and share your inspiration with others.
That's what Margaret Helms did recently with this true story. She prefaced her remarks by saying there is a kind soul working somewhere in the U.S. Postal Service. Margaret said her family's 14-year-old dog, Abbey, died last month.
She tells it this way: The day after Abbey died, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God, so that when Abbey got to Heaven, God would recognize her.
I told her we could, so she dictated these words: Dear God - Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is now with you in Heaven. I miss her very much. I am sending a picture of her so that when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her! Love, Meredith.
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Meredith and Abbey and addressed it to God in Heaven. We put our return address on it, and Meredith pasted several stamps on the envelope and dropped it in the letterbox at the Post Office.
A few days later she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that he probably had. Then yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed "To Meredith," in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it.
Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers titled, "When A Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey and Meredith, and this note: Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in Heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized her right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. She loved being your dog. I am sending the picture back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your
Mother for helping you send it to me. What a wonderful Mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day because I love you very much. By the way, I am WHEREVER there is LOVE. Always, God.
Here's one other inspirational true story. Jo Ann Smotry is a hospice volunteer, and she tells about having a Nursing Home patient who has dementia and doesn't respond to anyone. She said, "Most every time I visited I'd find her husband there, in her room, talking to her as he held her hand. He never left without telling her, 'I love you' and hugging her.
"There wasn't much response, but there was 'that little bit', and he reached out for it on every visit. One day, as he was about to leave, he said 'I love you' to her as he had so many times before, and then he said to her, "You know I love you, don't you Honey?" Suddenly, there was a loud "YES" in the air.
SHE SPOKE! He could hardly compose himself. She had confirmed what all of us knew by then - she heard him and she loved him. Suddenly, all was right with his world!
BE INSPIRED TODAY!
